Ashes to Ashes

It's been quite a start to the new year. There has been a lot of death in my life. Death of plans, ideas and family. Two months into the year and I can say that this has probably been the hardest start to any new year for me. I am alive and in good health so really, what is there to complain about? I am not complaining, just making observations.

Almost every day I turn on the news there is a story about death. Sometimes senseless deaths, sometimes unexpected but all tragic. When you hear about teenagers cyberbullying or "in person" bullying and then hear that the person committed suicide, how do you deal with that? Or how about the man who was drunk and got behind the wheel of his car and killed someone? Then there is the man who went to a mall and killed people? I begin to wonder "where can I be safe outside of my home?"

Then I think of my own life - dreams and plans that I had suddenly gone. Making plans and decision only to find out that nothing is going to happen. And while I was recovering from that, have a family member die.

Relationships in my life are also dying. Busy work schedules, conflicting work schedules, money, family....it all seems to be in the forefront in the lives of my friends and causing relationships to sink. Of course, there is the occasional text and email but what ever happened to face to face meetings?? I miss those. So there is the death to another thing.

So with death all around, where do you go to escape it? I am going to say you go to Jesus but to be honest, my relationship with Christ is also running on embers. Life has taken a very interesting twist and a turn that has me spinning in circles. My footing has become so unsure but here's what I have learned:

1. If something is dead, bury it! there is no use trying to bring back the dead. The stench has already set in, it's just time to let go and move on.

2. If there is a hope, an honest to goodness hope of "not now but later" put it on life support. It's not dead but right now it can't really survive in it's current condition. However, sometimes this may mean a full recovery of your dream, plan, even loved one but you must also be willing to accept that there may be no recovery and you will have to let it go.

3. If it's mostly alive but injured, take care of it. You want something to get better, whether that be a severed relationship, an idea or vision you would like to do for yourself, nurture it, help it to grow and starve off death.

Your ashes to ashes moment may come when you least expect it but it always comes especially when you are serving Christ. It doesn't have to be a bad thing. Things die but something beautiful is birthed in it's place.